First swarm of 2016

I finally caught a swarm that I know is not from a beekeeper’s yard. Atleast not directly. I picked this baby up and noticed a booming colony in the tree overhead about 40 feet up. The queen was in a little clump of bees on the grass across the sidewalk from the cluster. I don’t think she could fly. The homeowner told me that the swarm was on the sidewalk at first, but they walked up into a small bush by the time I got there. It is still early for swarms around here (or so I’ve been told). I left a bait hive at the location just in case another swarm decides to leave. I can’t wait to measure the brood cell size. Another bait hive of mine has a couple dozen scouts checking it out. It’s getting pretty exciting over here in PA.

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Author: brucelovesbees

I keep honey bees in Reading, PA without treatments, feed or foundation. I love to garden and observe Wasps, Bumble bees, and ants. I also raise mealworms for my Eastern Spotted turtle and myself.
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2 thoughts on “First swarm of 2016”

We don’t have this situation quite yet but there are a heck of a lot of honeybees all buzzing around the ground in a 10 ft by 8 ft area of a naturalized area in a local park. No one has done any spraying yet. But they are getting pretty noisy. There are thousands. I was wondering, can I do anything or call anyone so these bees can find a home? They don’t seem to be coming or going anywhere. Just all close to the ground, huge numbers. They don’t seem to be collecting honey. This has been going on a couple of weeks. I’m afraid someone will go over there and spray and kill them all. Anything or anyone I can call or do? Thanks.